In its latest article, "Manga Burnout?", The Mumbling Kitsune asks the question "Will manga ever fall away from mainstream American culture?"

From Bookslut comes an interview with Dirk Deppey, online editor for The Comics Journal/Journalista.

Via: Icarus Blog

Canned Dogs reports that Miyashita Masaya, the hentai doujinshi artist who was arrested last month for not labeling his works "adult only," will be fined 300,000 yen for distribution of indecent material:

Yasamata Shiyami, the doujin author who was arrested on charges of distribution of indecent material, was ordered by the Matsuyama Small Claims Court today to pay a fine of 300,000 yen (US$2,600).

According to a thread on Rumic World's forum, a scanlation group called Freelance-Manga sent a letter to Viz Media regarding the handling of the manga Inuyasha. Freelance-Manga later announced that a supervising editor from Viz responded to the letter:

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Earn Some Points by Writing a Review, Get Free Products from DLSite.com!

HERNDON, VA - September 13, 2007 - DLSite.com announced their recently added User Review system. If your review is posted, you'll receive 50 points that can be used to purchase products from DLSite.com. To write a review, you just need to register (free) at DLSite.com.

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According to the latest Jump info, after 8 years of serialization, The Prince of Tennis by Takeshi Konomi will end in issue 52 of Weekly Shonen Jump. Also, Belmonde le VisiteuR by Shomei Ishioka will end in Weekly Jump No.48, and Boku no Watashi no Yusha Gaku by Shuichi Aso will end in Weekly Jump No.49.

Edit: It was later confirmed that The Prince of Tennis will not end in November.

According to Japan News Review, after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation, various manga-related stocks experienced a sudden rise on Tokyo Stock Market. According to the report, the rise is mainly caused by the expectations that the manga-loving Taro Aso will most likely replace Abe:

Among the stocks that rose on Wednesday is the Tokyo-based card game company "Broccoli," whose stocks went up from 92 yen to 157 yen, a 71% rise. Major manga retailer Mandarake saw a 13% rise, while video game retailer Koei Net went up by 15%. Toei Animation, one of Japan's largest animation studios, and Kadokawa Group Holdings, a manga publisher, both rose 3%.

Anime! Anime! and PWCW report that Digital Manga Publishing has signed a new co-labeling contract with Japanese publishers Shinshokan, Oakla Shuppan and Taiyo Tosho:

All titles licensed by DMP from these publishers will carry the original Japanese publisher's logo as well as the DMP logo. "This has never been done within the manga industry [in the U.S.],??? DMP president and CEO Hikaru Sasahara said.

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ANN reports that Scott McCloud's Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels has won the 2007 Quill Award in the Graphic Novel Category. A list of the winners can be found here.

Icarus Publishing has announced that in a few more days, it will become an official GS1 member:

In a couple of days, Icarus Publishing will become an official GS1 member. That means Comic AG will now carry a UPC code??? yup, no weaksauce third party UPC numbers, but our very own unique company UPC prefix! And for this priviledge all we needed to do was pay a $750 membership fee, plus a yearly $150 renewal fee.